Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 256 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 256

JANE AUSTEN

desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely

wish him happy.

All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and

after relating the circumstances, she thus went on: “I

am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never

been much in love; for had I really experienced that

pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest

his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my

feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even

impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I

hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think

her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all

this. My watchfulness has been effectual; and though I

certainly should be a more interesting object to all my

acquaintances were I distractedly in love with him, I

cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance.

Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly.

Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to heart

than I do. They are young in the ways of the world,

and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that

handsome young men must have something to live on

as well as the plain.”

248